Receptacle-filling machine



e. w. BLAKE RBCEPTACLE FILLING IACHINE Filed Oct. 12, 1922 4Sheets-Shoot 1 Sept. 7 1926.

' G. w. BLAKE RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 12, 1922 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 7 1926.

G. W. BLAKE RECEPTACLE FILLINGIIACHINE 4 Sheets-Shoot 5 Filed Oct. l2,1922 Sept. 7 1926.

G. W. BLAKE RECEPTACLE FILLING mourns 4 Shouts-Shoot 4.

Filed Oct. 12, 1922 Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. BLAKE, OF WYANDOTTE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE GEO. W. BLAKEMFG. COMPANY, OF WYANDOTTE,.MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

RECEPTACLE-FILLING MACHINE.

Application filed October 12, 1922. Serial No. 594,015.

This invention relates to a receptacle filling machine of that classdisclosed by my Patent No. 1,278,097, granted Sept. 10, 1918, and in mypending application filed June 4, 1920, Serial No. 386,529. The machineincludes, inter alia, fillin means for receptacles; electro-mechanicameans controlling the filling means; movable platforms to receive thereceptacles; means successively actuated by the placing and filling ofreceptacles on the platforms for controlling the operation of theelectro-mechanical means, and means to move the platforms with thereceptacles thereon so that the receptacles may be removed. 1

This invention particularly relates to an improvement in the fillingmeans for the re ceptacles, also, the means actuated by the placing andfilling of receptacles for controlling the operation of theelectro-mechanical means, which in turn controls the filling means.

Considering the first improvement, this filling spouts. Since thefilling spouts are opened and closed by electro-mechanical means, thefeeding. devices are arranged to be operated in timed relation tothe'opening and closing of the filling spouts so that the feedingdevices will be operated only when the spouts are open. Closing of thespouts or inactivity of the machine may cause material in the spouts tosettle and become packed therein, but immediately upon opening thespouts and placing the feeding devices in operation the material iscaused to freely flow. Then again, the feeding devices may be of such asize and so located relative to the feeding s outs that approxi mately aredetermine quantity of mate rial will e fed through the spouts, andwhen the feeding of material is proper breaking an electrical circuitafter a receptacle had received a predetermined quantity of material. Inorder that the scales or weighing platforms could quickly control theoperation of the electro-mechanical means, which in turn controlled thefilling means or spouts of the machine, I found it advantageous to use asolenoid actuated switch and this refinement in the electrical controlof the machine contributes to the high degree of perfection obtained inthe machine now in use.

The present improvements will be herein after more fully described, andreference will now be had to the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is ahorizontal sectional view of a portion of the machine showing the scalesor weighing platform;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview of the greater portion of themachine;

' Fig. 3'is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the machineillustrating the filling and feeding means for receptacles;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the scales or weighingplatforms illustrating the solenoid actuated switch and electricalconnections;

Fig. 5 is a top plan of the machine partly broken away and partly insection;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical wiring of themachine, and

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the mechanical means ofcontrolling a filling spout of the machine.

My machines includes a base 1 and uprights 2, 3 and 4 with the upperends thereof connected by a three-arm spider 5. The uprights areotherwise connected, particularly by a three-arm spider 6, adjacent thebase 1 of the machine and this spider coopcrates with the spider 5inproviding bearings or journals for a vertically disposed drive shaft 7which may be operated from an electric motor or suitable source ofpower.

Mounted on the vertical shaft 7 is a bottom plate or platform 8 andsecured to said bottom plate are lateral flanges 9 of a plarality ofinverted frustro-conical shaped chutes 1O communicating with openings 11in the bottom plate 8. Connected to the lower face of the bottom plate8, about the openings 11, are filling spouts 12 corresponding" in numberto the chutes 10 with the walls of said filling spouts practically acontinuation of the walls of the chutes 10. Suitably connected to thelower ends of the filling spouts 12 are flexible discharge tubes 13 thatmay be in the form of pieces of hose that may be collapsed or have wallsthereof pressed towards each other to restrict the passage to the tubeor completely close the same;

Bet rcen the upper ends of the iiutes 10 is a horizontally disposed wall14 and suitably connected to the side edges of this wall and the sideedges of the chutes 10 are the inner and outer annular walls 15 and 16re speetiyely of an auxiliary reservoir, said walls cooperating inproi'idingr an annular compartment normally closed by a cover plate 17suitably attached to the spider 5. The cover plate 17 has a detachablehand hole plate 18 and an opening" 19, said opening admitting materialto the auxiliary reservoir from a main reservoir (not shown).

Mounted on the marginal edges of the bottom plate or platform 8 arebearings 20, corresponding in number to the chutes 10 and journaled insaid; bearings are shafts Q1 prorided; with gear wheels 22. Pivote-rl onthe shafts 21 are yokesQB supporting rotatable pinions 21L constantlymeshingwith the gear wheels 22 and adapted to mesh with a substantiallycircular rack 25, carried by brackets 26' attached to the uprights 2, 3and i.

The shafts 21 extend into the chutes 10 and closed gear housings 27mounted within said chutes. The gear housings 27 are prorided withdepending feeder shafts 9.8 and on the upper ends of said shafts arebeveled gear wheels 29 constantly meshing with hercled gear wheels 30 onthe shafts 521. On the lower ends of the shafts 2 s are spiral feedersor screws 31 adapted to loosen material in the lower ends of the chutes10, in the filling spouts 12-, and the upper ends of the discharge tubes13 and if the material does not descend by gravity it may be fed out ofthe chutes 1O intothe discharge tubes 13 by the feed screws which areadapted to be driven when the pinions 2a mesh with the rack and theauxiliary reservoir rotated relative to the stationary rack In additionto the feeders within the chutes and tilling spouts, I employ anagitator for stirring up the material in the upper of the chutes 10 andthe auxiliary reserioir adjacent the chutes which are actiye.

tor comprises a star wheel or Oilttt:

ihe

' multi-pointcd member 82 having its points or tips provided withshields 33. The wheel or member 32 is rotatable in a forked lcycr or arm34 pivotally connected to a dc 3nding bearing carried by a cover plate17. but more especially the hand-hole plate 1R which will permit of theagitator beingbodily removed. Connected to the arm 34 is a suspensionrod' 36 extending through an opening 237 in the plate 18, saidsuspension rod being slidable in a bracket 38 mounted on the plate 18.Encirclingr the suspension rod 36. between the bracket 88 and a collar39 on. the rod 36 a coiled expansion spring 110 which ieldably holds theaggitator wheel orniember in a lowered positi im. so that the arms orspokes of the agitator will extend into the chutes 10, said arms orspokes spanning; the wall 14; between the chutes and the gear housings27 within the chutes. as the auxiliary reservoir is rotated. By thewalls ofthe chutes and the gear housings QT contacting with the shields3301? the agitator it will be revolved and thus agitate or stir materialin the chutes 10 and the auxiliary reservoir.

Attached to the lower face of the bottom plate or platform 8, below eachbearing 20, is a hanger 41 sugporting a set of solenoids having coresthereof connected by a cross head it. and rigidly attached to said crosshead and extending through the bottom plate or platform 8 is a rodconnected to the end of the yoke 2 by a link 46 which permits of thesolenoid when ei'ier z'izcd rocking the yoke 23 to shift the pinion 2tthereof into mesh with the stationary rock 2:). At tachcd to the crosshead @111. between the solenoids 4.2 is plunger -17 encircled by acoiled expansion spring 48 which rais the cross head 41- rock yoke 23and retracts the pinion 2st relative to the rack when the solenoids 4-2are deenergized,

Suitably attached to each hauler 41 are brackets l9 ha ing confrontingchannel. guides 50- and slidable in said channel guides are the ends ofopposed shut oil llltiilbj? o1 and the ends of rods The shut. oilmembers 51 are in opposed relation at the sides of the discharge tube 13and said shut oil members have presser blocks adapted to collapse thewalls of the discharge tube and close or restrict the pas age throughsaid tube. shut off members 51 are best :nown in F1. 2 and T and areconnected by: links rods also by touch: nicnihcrs o-l in: are pivotallyconnected. to the ends of a .orl; 55 fulcrunicd on a pin 50 connectingthe brackets l9, said fork being pivotally connected to the lower end ofthe plunger it".

The shut off devices in the solenoids which operate the same have beendescri a-d in art prior Patent No. 1.278.097 as electrcnunj-luur icalmeans controlling the dis harge tubes which constitute filling means torreceptacles placed below the discharge tubes. anzl before describing theoperation of the rotary V tact members 76 feeding devices controlled bythe solenoids, I will describe my improvement in connection with thescales or weighing platforms on which receptacles are placed and adaptedto be filled with material from the discharge tubes 13.

As in my former patent,'the shaft 7 is rovided with a rotary carrier 57which has its peripheral edges cut away to provide clearance for aplurality of scale platforms 58 corresponding in number to the dischargetubes 13. Each scale platform has a depending stirrup 59 pivotallyconnected to a yoke 60 on the outer end of a scale beam 61. The yoke 60is pivotally connected to a stirrup shaped hanger 62 of the carrier 57and this hanger is connected by a link 63 to the yoke 59. Theconstructive arrangement of the scale beam 61 is such that it isnormally maintained in a horizontal plane below the perhipheral edges ofthe rotary carrier 57, and with the scale platform of the beam and poisetype it is possible to set the poise of the scale so that the platformwill not be overbalanced until a predetermined quantity of material hasentered a can or receptacle on the platform.

Above each scale platform 58 is a fixed abutment 64 and a yieldableabutment 65 constituting a receiving means for a receptacle to be placedon the platform, and between said abutments is a conventional form alink 7 3, to a switc 1 arm or blade 74. The

upper end of the switch blade is pivotally connected to a switch block75 attached to arm supported from the platform 102 and the lower face ofthe rotary carrier 57,said switch block havin blade guides 77 and conorthe switch blade 74. There is a solenoid and switch for each scaleplatform, but for the sake of clearness I have only shown one solenoidand switch in dotted lines in Fig. 1, but it is to be understood thatsuch equipment is adjacent each scale platform. p

Suitably fixed on the three-arm spider 6 is a brush holder 79 havingbrushes 80 and 81 in circuit with a suitable source of electrical energy(not shown). The brushes 80 and 81 contact with distributor rings 82 and83 respectively carried by an insulator 78 mounted on the vertical driveshaft 7, and the distributor ring 82 is connected by insulatedelectrical conductors 84 to binding post 85 on the rotary'carrier 57said binding post being connected by conductors S6 to the switches 66.The switches are connected by conductors 87 to binding posts 88 on therotary carrier 57 and by conductors 89 to the switch blades 74 below therotary carrier 57. The contact members 76 of each switch are connectedby a conductor 90 to the solenoid 71 and said solenoid by a conductor 91to the bracket 69 extending below each scale platform 58. The insulatedcontact member 67 of each scale platform is connected by a conductor toa binding post 93 on the rotary carrier and this binding post isconnected by a conductor 94 to the distributor ring 83 conductor 95 tothe set of. solenoids 42 above the scale platform 58, said solenoidsbeing connected by a conductor 96 to the switch contact member 76. Byreference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the conductors 95 and 96extend through an insulator 97 of the rotary carrier 57 and an insulator98 on the drive shaft 7.

Suitably supported, from the upright 4. and the platform 102 is a. rail99 adapted to be on; ad by shoes 100 carried by the scale pl owns 58,said shoes elevating the sidercd as complete, I have illustrated theiollowing elements or structures which are fully described in my pendingapplication.

102 is a loading and unloading platform providedwith a loading endlessconveyor 103 and an unloading endless conveyor 104-. i 105 is anadjustable swingable loading through the medium ofa suitable mecha nisinadapted to be actuated by trip members 106 depending from the rotarycarrier 107 is an abutment on theplatform 102 whicli retains receptacleson the loading conveyor 103 until such time as the scale h platform isin pos1t1on to receive a recepthe above enumerated and by a.

I devices. there 1s a vibratory device, guldes and Va riousinstrnmentalities which contribute to a machine that does expeditiouslyand economically fill receptacles. and the operation o't my machine.particularly the improved parts. will now be considered.

isuming that the drive shaft 7 is driven from a able source of energy,the rotary car er and the auxiliary reservoir are revolved in unison ina clockwise dircc tion. The material in the auxiliary reservoir stirredor agitated by the wheel or member 32 so that the material will enter land may descend by gravity into v.2:harge tubes 13. lVhen these tubes:rc o eu tor filing receptacles the soleno d li sized and the screw'lecders are 0 .7 led by virtue of the pinions 2 en! the stationary rackThe ene; circuit of the solenoids is shown in i. as follows;

and: is

The distributor ring 82 by wire 8% to t e b ding post 85 by a conductor86 to 0 switch (36. which is closed by a recepll 'acle being placed onthe scale platform. "om the switch ('hi by a conductor 87 to l bindingpost 88 and by coi'iductor 88) 0 tie switch blade Tl. The switch bladeeing; in a closed position the circuit coninues by contact members inand conductor l o solenoid -il-2 and then by conductors ed El!- to thedistributor ring 83. 'v'ith solenoid en. ized the receptacle isb-eiillcd as the carrier 57 and the auxiliary reservoir arc revolved.and any tendency of the material to clog the discharge tube '3 isprevented by the screw 'l'eed within schargc spout 12 and the tube 13. lhen the recepta 'le receives a predetermined quantity of material thecontact memer (3? or" the scale plat t'orm engages the ad- 'wlc contactmember 68 and the followng circuit is completed.

From. distributor ring 83 by conductors and 92 through the contactmembers (37 a d 68. bracket 69 to conductor 91 leading the solenoid '71,by conductor to con- .ct member T6. knil'e blade H and c0nduc rs S? andS? to switch 66, which is still because at a loaded receptacle againstswitch. From this switch by conducs and to distributor ring 82. Thiscircuit energizes the solenoid 71 and retracts c switch blade Tl. sothat the solenoid 1:2 (lo-energised and the expansive force of lb mayclose the shut oll memers 51 and retract the pinion 2% relative to thestationary rack This takes place wl: a. receptacle has received apredeterminee quantity of material, and when the filled receptacle isremoved from the scale platform all circuits are broken, in connect nwith this particular scale platform until the same receives an emptyreceptacle.

I 5; thought that the utility of my imprownuents will be apparentwithout further description, and it is to be understood that suchimprovements are susceptible to such changes as are pcrn'iissiblc by theappended claims.

ll hat I claim is 1- 1. In a filling machine adapted to receivereceptacles, a rot: reservoir, filling means for the receptacles.clectro-mcchanical means controlling said filling means, a materialfeeding device cvtcndiug into said filling means, means carried by saidrotary reservoir and controlled by said electromechanical means forcausing operation of said ma terial feeding device, and means controlledby the weight ol a receptacle and its con tents in said machine torcontrolling the actuation of said elcctromechanical means.

2. A filling machine as in claim 1 wherein said filling means includes acollapsible tube adapted to be closed or have its passage restricted bysaid electr0-mechanical means.

3. In a filling machine a rack, a rotary reservoir. a discharge lubedepending from said reservoir, a feeding device in theupper end of saidtube. closing means for the lower end at d tube. means controlled by theweight of a receptacle and its contents for arduating said closingmeans. and means controlled by said closing means adapted to causeoperation ol said feeding device from said rack.

l. A filling machine as called for in claim 3. wherein the lasti'nentioncd means includes shafts. gear wheels, a tiltablc yoke. and apinion carried by said tiltable yoke and adapted to mesh with said ra k.

A filling machine as called for in claim wherein said closing meansincludes electrically opened shut oil members adapted to beautomatically closed.

0. In a filling machine. a rotary reservoir. a discharge tubecommunicating with said reservoir, normally closed shut ofi' membersclosing said tube, a feeding device in said tube. ele'trical meansadapted to open said shut off n'ieiubcrs and place said feeding devicein conoition to be operated, and means a -ilapted to rotate saidreservoir. said means being controlled by the weight of a receptaclc andits contents in said machine for causing operation of said feedingdevice.

7. In a filling machine adapted to receive receptacles. mechanicallyclosed and electrically opened. filling means for the receptacles.platforms to receive the receptacles and adapted to be lowered andraised, means actuated by lateral movement of the receptacle on to aplatform to cause said filling means to open. means including a solenoidswitch actuated by the weight of a filled receptacle on said platform tocause the platform to lower and the filling means to clo e. a materialfeeding device associated with mid filling means and operated during theopen period of said filling means, and a rotary reservoir supportingsaid filling means and b its movement causing operation of said cedingdevice.

8. In a receptacle filling machine, a rotary reservoir, a plurality ofdischarge chutes carried thereby, an agitator supported within saidreservoir and adapted to be engaged by portions of said rotary reservoirto cause said agitator to stir material in said reservoir, said agitatorhaving a configuration which permits of portions thereof entering thechutes of said reservoir, feeding devices in the chutes of saidreservoir placed in operation at intervals during the rotation of saidreservoir, discharge tubes carried by said chutes, and means actuated bythe Weight of the receptacle and its contents in said machine forsimultaneosly controlling the discharge from said tubes and theintermittent operation of said feeding device.

9. In a receptacle filling machine, a rotary reservoir,circumferentially disposed chutes carried thereby, a feeding device ineach chute, tiltable means adapted to be adjusted to cause operation ofsaid feeding devices during rotation of said reservoir, means actuatingsaid tiltable means, and controlled by the weight of a receptacle andits contents in said machine, an agitator in said reservoir and adaptedto extend into the chutes thereof as said reservoir is rotated, meansfor rotating said reservoir, and means adapted to simultaneously adjustsaid tiltable means and control the discharge from said chutes.

In testimony whereof I affix In signature.

GEORGE W; LAKE.

